Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-02-12

the cottage, shat cannot, In common con-
sistency, become one of your guests | shall
always feel Interested in ISABEL Miller's well
fare; and can honestly say shall be glad II
your married life proves that my old
fashioned prejudices are without justifica-
ton in your case. Accept my thanks for
your invitation, and let me hope that my
plain speaking has not offended YOU"
She bowed and looked about her for Tom
mie before she advanced TO the carriage
waiting for her at the gate. In the surprise
Of seeing Moody she had forgotten to look
back for the dog when she entered the
shrubbery She now called 10 him, and blew
the whistle at her watch chain. Not sign
of Tommie was to be seen. Hardyman i'm
stantly directed the servants to search in the
cottage and out Of the cottage for the dog.
The order was obeyed with all needful ac-
tiyity and intelligence, and entirely without
Success. For the time being, at any rate,
Tommie was lost.
Hardyman promised to have the dog looked
for in every part of the farm, and TO send
him back in the care of one of his own men.
With these polite assurances Lady Lydiard
was obliged to be satisfied She drove away
in a very respondent frame of mind First
Isabel and now Tommie, thought her lady
ship. ~ am losing the only companions who
made life tolerable to me.n
Returning from the garden gate, after TAX
ing leave of his visitor, Hardyman received
from his servant handful of letters which
had Just arrived for him. Walking slowly
over the lawn as he opened them, he found
nothing but excuses for the absence Of guests
l,..l.- h.1 Ill Ix, .ta1 As....
He had Just thrust the letters into his pocket
when he heard footsteps behind him, and,
looking round, found himself confronted by
Moody.
"Hallool have you come here to lunchf
Hardyman asked, roughly
" have come here, sir with little gift
for Miss Isabel, in honor of her marriage
Moody answered, quietly. Sand l ask your
permission to put it on the table, so that she
may see it when your guests sit down tc
| luncheon"
He opened jewelers. case as he spoke, con.
tanning plain gold bracelet with AN inscrip
| ton engraved on the inner side: 'To Miss
Isabel Miller, with the sincere good wishes
| of Robert Moody
Plain as it was, the design of the bracelet
| was unusually beautiful Hardyman had
noticed Moody's agitation on the day wher
he had met Isabel near her aunt's house, and
had drawn his own conclusions from it. His
| face darkened with a momentary Jealousy
as he looked at the bracelet "All right, old
fellowr" he said, with contemptuous famil
iarity. Don't be modest Wait and give
| it to her with your own hand"
mo, sir" said Moody. ~ would rather
leave it, if you please, TO speak for itself"
| Hardyman understood the delicacy o.
feeling which dictated those words, and
without well knowing why, resented it He
was on the point of speaking, under the in
| fluence of this unworthy feeling, wheI
Isabels voice reached his ears, calling to hin
from the cottage
Moody's face contracted with sudden ex
preston Of pain as he, no, recognized thu
voice. Don't let me detajn you, sir" hi
said, sadly. "Good morni-g"
Hardyman left him without ceremony
Moody, slowly following entered the tent
| All the preparations for the luncheon haC
been completed; nobody was there ThI
| places to be occupied by tho guests were in
| dica ed by cards bearing their names
Moody found Isabel's card, and put hi
bracelet inside the folded napkin On hel
| plate. For awhile he stood with his hanc
on the table, thinking. The temptation t.
communicate once more with Isabel befor'
h. lost her forever was fast getting the bet
| tr of his powers of resistance. "If l coulC
| PERSUADE her to write a word to say sif
liked her bracelet" he thought, sit would b.
comfort when | go back to my solitar'
hfe." H, tore leaf out of his pocketbool
and wrote on it: "One line to say you &C
cept my gift and my good wishes. Put /
under the cushion of your chair and l shall
| end it when the company have left the tent.
| He slipped the paper into the case which
held the bracelet, and instead of leaving tn
| farm as he had intended, turned back to thu
| shelter of the shrubbery. 3